What happened last night at this hospital was an affront to the wishes of the American people and

Mayor-elect Condemns Midnight Federal Operation

“What happened last night at this hospital was an affront to the wishes of the American people and to the people of Los Angeles,” Nithya Raman said after federal agents brought a patient into Adventist Health White Memorial Medical Center around midnight.

Community members and advocates gathered outside the Boyle Heights hospital on Saturday afternoon to protest the presence of ICE agents. Federal agents arrived at the medical center with a person in their custody who required medical care.

Protesters gather at Boyle Heights hospital after ICE agents bring person to ER

Demonstrators Clash With Agents Outside Boyle Heights Facility

Video from the scene captured tense confrontations between demonstrators and federal agents outside the facility, alongside footage of a teenage girl receiving help after being pepper-sprayed during the protest. Los Angeles Police Department officers followed closely behind as ICE agents eventually left the area.

During the demonstration, protesters surrounded hospital president Daniel Fontura and chanted, “Give him the Mic! Give him the Mic.” Fontura addressed the crowd, explaining that federal agents entered the medical center with a patient in need of treatment but faced immediate pushback from hospital staff.

Protest erupts at Boyle Heights hospital after ICE transports patient, blocks ambulance entrance

Hospital Leadership Defends Sacred Patient Encounters

“There was a time when ICE actually wanted to break protocol and be in with the physician in that sacred physician patient encounter and we said no,” Fontura said.

Fontura also clarified why hospital officials contacted local law enforcement during the unfolding situation.

Boyle Heights hospital says ICE agents blocked ambulance entrance, prompting community response

Emergency Access Blocked Prompting Police Intervention

“When they lined up to prevent access to EMS trucks and ambulances to our facility, that was not done with our approval,” Fontura said. “So when those things happen we called LAPD and said help us with this predicament.”

The LAPD confirmed that officers responded to the location to keep the peace. Hospital leadership stated plans are underway to improve communication between internal security personnel and the LAPD to strengthen protocols when handling future interactions with ICE agents.